The DSP Support Specialist assists with the day-to-day operations of the group home. They carry out responsibilities in the following functional areas: consumer rights, personal cares, daily living activities, and regulatory compliance. They are responsible for ensuring adequate and proper training of other DSP staff. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DESIRED OUTCOMES:

• Leads by example, communicates expectations, provides trainings, support, and continuously evaluates, directs, and coaches staff performance and development through meaningful feedback to meet the needs of the employee, consumers, co-workers, and organization.  
• Performs duties relating to the support, care, welfare, supervision and training of persons with intellectual disabilities and/or acute, chronic or long-term conditions.
• Provides personal cares as directed by individual needs in a consumer specific manner.
• Assists and monitors all activities of daily living as indicated in support plans and as desired by the consumer to include, but not limited to: personal hygiene, toileting, and independent living skills.
• Teaches and guides consumers in achieving hopes, dreams, goals and objectives through self-direction, decision-making, and goal setting.
• Follows safety and regulatory procedures in all areas of food preparation, serving of meals, clean up and other related activities.
• Prepares and serves meals by following general nutritional guidelines, menus, individual dietary restrictions, needs and preferences to ensure consumer health.
• Assists, monitors, and documents medication administration to ensure consumer health and compliance with Department of Human Services, Care Management Organizations, and Clarity Care policies and procedures.
• Follows all documentation and reporting policies and procedures for any medication and/or safety issues, and significant events.
• Coaches, monitors, reports and documents consumer’s verbal and physical behaviors to ensure the safety and health of consumers and others.
• Maintains a safe, sanitary and welcoming group home by performing homecare maintenance and other domestic duties to include, but not limited to cleaning, laundry, safe yard maintenance/snow removal, etc.
• Responds promptly and competently in emergency response situations.
• Assists, escorts, and provides physical and other types of assistance needed by consumers during social and recreational activities.
• Provides opportunities sensitive to the needs, preferences, and choices of the consumer while promoting community recreational participation.
• Leads efforts in retention processes to ensure qualified employees and adequate staffing.
• Takes responsibility to assess, develop, implement, revise, and monitor Individual Service Plans (ISP) with Lead and Support Services to ensure the proper care and treatment of consumers as deemed appropriate 
• Follows the Physician’s Plan of Care and schedules, directs, and completes all medical, dental, psychiatric, and other various appointments to ensure the health and wellbeing of the consumers.
• Perform on-call responsibilities for evenings, weekends, and holidays on an established alternating schedule or needed basis including providing coverage on other homes as assigned
• Performs duties at multiple group homes and is comfortable being pulled last minute to assist based on need. 
• Must be available for various shifts based on the needs of the program assigned 

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possess an Associate degree or higher in a health care related field; or a Bachelor’s degree in a field other than health care.
• Minimum one year experience working in a health care related field having direct contact working with and teaching persons with developmental disabilities and/or extensive related work/life experience.
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must possess a valid WI driver’s license, and ability to meet agency driving standards.  Must provide proof of auto insurance.
• Must pass a periodic WI Caregiver Background Check including Department of Justice Criminal Record Checks, and/or that of previous states of residence.